August 8, 2024
Visit www.solvethecrisis.ca for more information
TORONTO – There is a humanitarian crisis happening on our streets. An unprecedented number of Ontarians are homeless, living in encampments and other unsafe spaces, and too many are dying from addictions and mental health issues. Municipalities have done everything we can, but we don’t have the resources or expertise to take this on alone. That is why today Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM) are launching our ‘Solve the Crisis’ campaign.
Together with various community partners, municipalities have been tackling this issue head on, funding various programs and spaces to find solutions. Despite the success of many of these programs, the crisis continues to grow and municipalities need help.
Over the last few years OBCM has requested that the federal and provincial governments address this crisis as it unfolds on our streets, affecting our downtowns, impacting our public spaces, and hurting our most vulnerable residents. The federal and provincial governments have taken some action on this issue, including Ontario’s Roadmap to Wellness, the creation of the Homelessness Prevention Program and investments in youth wellness hubs. But it’s just not enough. This issue spans multiple ministries and we need someone to take the lead and take action now.
We want to ‘Solve the Crisis’ together, today we are requesting that the provincial government:
- Appoint a responsible ministry and Minister with the appropriate funding and powers as a single point of contact to address the full spectrum of housing needs as well as mental health, addictions and wrap around supports.
- Have this Minister strike a task force with broad sector representatives including municipalities, healthcare, first responders, community services, the business community and the tourism industry to develop a Made in Ontario Action Plan.
- Provide municipalities with the tools and resources to transition those in encampments to more appropriate supports, when deemed necessary
- Commit to funding the appropriate services these individuals need, community by community where there are gaps in the system.
- Invest in 24/7 Community Hubs / Crisis Centres to relieve pressure on emergency centres and first responders
We are asking for all Ontarians to join our call by visiting www.solvethecrisis.ca and show their support by signing up and contacting your local MPP to tell them that you want the province to take action now. Together we can do this, but we need your help. To watch our video please visit our YouTube channel here – https://youtu.be/6VRjoEgQm98
Quotes
“There is a humanitarian crisis happening on our streets, people are dying and something needs to be done. The number of people who are unhoused, as well as those suffering with mental health and addictions issues, is growing at alarming rate, and municipalities cannot tackle this crisis alone. We need the province, along with all levels of government and community partners, to implement the programs that have proven to be effective. This cannot wait, we must work together to solve this crisis now.”
Marianne Meed Ward
Chair of Ontario’s Big City Mayors and Mayor of Burlington
“As Mayor, I have witnessed firsthand the devastating impacts of homelessness and the urgent need for comprehensive solutions. Our city, like many others, has been working tirelessly to address this crisis, but we cannot do it alone. The ‘Solve the Crisis’ campaign is a crucial step in bringing together all levels of government and community partners to ensure that every Ontarian has access to safe, supportive housing and necessary mental health and addiction services. The only way we can solve this crisis is by working together.”
Josh Morgan
Vice-Chair Ontario’s Big City Mayors and Mayor of London
“We’re proud to work in lockstep with Ontario Big City Mayors on this humanitarian crisis. Our branches work with municipalities to support individuals facing mental health, addictions and housing-related issues. Our hope is for increased investments to community mental health and addictions to support Ontarians in need.”
Camille Quenneville
CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division
“The Ontario BIA Association (OBIAA), working together with the 300 BIAs and more than 120,000 businesses along our main streets and commercial cores, stands with the Ontario Big City Mayors (OBCM) in asking the province to take action to address this crisis. Our main streets, our businesses and those living rough, are suffering and it is time for strong and positive action.”
Kay Matthews
Executive Director, Ontario BIA Association
About Ontario’s Big City Mayors
Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM) is an organization that includes mayors of 29 single and lower-tier cities with a population of 100,000 or more, who collectively represent nearly 70 percent of Ontario’s population. OBCM advocates for issues and policies important to Ontario’s largest cities.
Media Contacts
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, Chair Michelle Baker, Executive Director
chair@obcm.ca michelle@obcm.ca
905-335-7777 647-308-6602